Sectors

Deep-Tech Start-ups – e.g. Digitalisation, ICT, Physical Science, Green Tech and Tech for Green, Quantum Technology, Life Science (Pharma/Biotech, Medtech incl. Digital Health)

Company size

Small enterprise with

• <50 employees
• <10 million euros annual turnover or balance sheet total

Development phase

Foundation phase: up to 5 years after formation of the start-up company

Requirements (extract)

• The application is submitted before the project starts.
• The business model is based on an exceptional technological and scientific challenge (technology leap).
• The company has large growth potential: several million euros in sales and financing rounds of at least EUR €5 million are realistic within the next few years.
• The team is innovative and committed, start-up driven and willing to take risks.
• The company must be independent pursuant to the EU definition of SME. Other companies shall have a maximum holding of 24.9%, and pure financial investors a maximum of 49.9%
• The criteria for the guideline and the guideline specifications, as well as GBER (General Block Exemption Regulation) are fulfilled.
• The budget of EUR 800,000 in Art. 22 GBER (General Block Exemption Regulation) has not yet been exhausted.
• You can find further information in the download area.

Digital Health Innovation Focus within the framework of Seedfinancing – Deep Tech

For deep-tech founders and deep-tech companies, which fulfil the seed financing requirements AND whose future product or service provision lies within the Digital Health sector.

Seed financing digital health innovation issues include:

• e-health: electronic patient records, telemedicine
• Digitally supported automation: robotics, sensor technology, 3D printing
• Patient self-treatment: wearables, social media, fitness
• Data: Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence

The application is made within the “aws Seedfinancing Deep Tech” program.
 

The maximum subsidy amount for this priority is:

EUR 100,000.

If at least one woman is a shareholder with more than a 25% share in the business and works in a management position, the maximum funding amount is increased by 15%, up to a maximum of EUR 115,000.

GREEN Seed Financing Focus:

For deep-tech founders and deep-tech companies, which fulfil the seed financing requirements AND whose future product or service provision lies within the action areas of the EU’s Green Deal. 

GREEN Seed Financing topics include:

• Climate protection: climate-neutral design of EU by 2050
• Clean energy
• Sustainable industry: for sustainable and more environmentally-friendly production cycles
• Mobility: funding of environmentally-compatible transport
• Sustainable agriculture & from the yard to the table: guarantee of a more sustainable food chain
• Biodiversity: measures to protect our sensitive ecosystem
• Elimination of pollution: measures to rapidly and effectively combat pollution
• Buildings and renovation: need for a more environmentally-friendly construction sector

You can find more information in our FAQs.
The application is made within the “aws Seedfinancing” program.
 

Success rate

25%

• conditionally refundable grant
• Industry-specific consulting, intellectual property rights consulting and coaching
• Tapping into further sources of financing

Financing amount

• up to EUR 800,000

The maximum amount of funding can only be applied for if at least one woman is a future shareholder with more than 25% shares in the business and works in a management position. Otherwise the funding cap is EUR 700,000.

Duration

Project duration 4-7 years, of which disbursement period: 1–2 years, total contractual term 9–12 years

Eligible costs

• Costs directly related to a company start-up, e.g.
  • Personnel costs
  • tangible investments, e.g. machinery, goods, office furniture and equipment, structural measures, goods in stock
  • intangible investments, e.g. patents, software, employee training
  • Operating resources, e.g. rent, goods, materials
  • Marketing and distribution costs.
  • you can find further details on admissible costs in the guideline specifications and FAQs

Disbursement

You will receive the grant in tranches upon reaching predefined milestones.

Repayment

Repayable interest-free in case of profit or sale of the company or individual assets – within 9-12 years

Costs

none

Additional funding

aws Connect

European Innovation Council / Horizon Europe

• Costs of routine changes to existing products, manufacturing processes or services; non-specific building equipment
• Investments in equipment and facilities not directly related to the business purpose of the start-up (vehicles, land, real estate properties, non-specific building equipment, etc.)
• Costs for products or developments that conform to the latest technology or merely have the goal of gradual improvement (incremental innovations)
• Invoice documents under EUR 150, excluding VAT
• Costs incurred prior to application

1. You apply for funding via the aws funding manager.
2. We analyse the application based on content and formal criteria.
3. We will invite you for a discussion if required.
4. We decide whether you pitch your project to the external assessment panel.
5. We jointly coordinate all necessary documents with you.
6. Projects from the life science sector are reviewed in the assessment panel by the Ethics Council.
7. You present your project to the external assessment panel (pitch).

We will inform you about our decision in any case

Detailed process (diagram) | detailed process (text)

Approval period

Depending on the dates of the assessment panel meetings, which are held several times a year.